Prospect Talent Score

Probability of Success

History

2009-10: Scott Mayfield was initially drafted by the Indiana Ice of the USHL but was immediately traded to the Youngstown Phantoms where in 59 games he posted 10 goals, 12 assists, and 145 penalty minutes. His play garnered enough attention for him to receive an invitation to the NHL Research, Development and Orientation camp where he opened up a lot of eyes.

2010-11: After starting his second season in Youngstown, Mayfield was invited to the World Junior-A Challenge where after posting an assist in four games and shutting down the opposition with aplomb, he would receive Tournament MVP honors. In 52 games for the Phantoms, Mayfield scored 7 goals and added 9 assists for 16 points while adding 159 penalty minutes.

2011-12: Mayfield stepped into a first-pairing defense role for the University of Denver as a freshman; skating alongside junior Paul Phillips for the Pioneers. In 42 games he scored 3 goals with 9 assists and was plus-five with a team-high 76 penalty minutes. Denver finished third in the WCHA and earned an NCAA tournament bid after reaching the WCHA championship game against North Dakota.

2012-13: Mayfield signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Islanders and made his pro hockey debut with New York AHL affiliate Bridgeport in April 2013 following his sophomore season at Denver. He had no points and was +1 with 2 penalty minutes in six AHL games. The Sound Tigers missed the playoffs after finishing third in the Northeast Division. Mayfield skated in all 39 games for Denver in his final season of college hockey. He scored 4 goals with 13 assists and was +8 with a team-high 112 penalty minutes. The Pioneers finished in a three-way tie for fourth in the WCHA, receiving an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament despite a first round loss to Colorado College in the WCHA tournament, and lost to New Hampshire in the Northeast Regional.

2013-14: Mayfield made his NHL debut with the Islanders on April 6th in a game against Columbus and played five late season games with New York — spending most of his first pro season with Islanders AHL affiliate Bridgeport. He had no points and was minus-3 with 7 penalty minutes while averaging 17:22 minutes of ice time for the Islanders. One of four Bridgeport defensemen with 18 or more points, he scored 3 goals with 15 assists in 71 games and had an even plus/minus while leading Sound Tigers’ defensemen with 129 penalty minutes. Bridgeport finished fifth in the Northeast Division; missing the AHL playoffs.

Talent Analysis

Mayfield is very much a prototypical NHL defenseman — a big man who is a strong skater and possesses a natural feel for the ice and the puck. A free-wheeling defenseman in junior hockey, he still has a willingness to join the play but also has a physical bite to his game. Offensively, he has a booming point shot and underrated hands when getting in closer to the net. One of the more consistent and durable defensemen for Islanders' AHL affiliate Bridgeport in his first pro season, Mayfield does not have the flash and sizzle of some of the other young defensemen in New York's system but appears equally capable of being a reliable blueliner at the NHL level one day.

Future

Mayfield, after making his NHL debut in a late season game this past April and attending training camp with the Islanders, was back in the AHL with Bridgeport to start the 2014-15 season. The Sound Tigers got off to a fast start after missing the playoffs three of the past four seasons and Mayfield and some of the other young defensemen were a big part of that success. Mayfield faces an uphill battle in what is now a crowded Islanders defense corps but long-term he projects as a sound, two-way defender.

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Photo: Griffin Reinhart is one of the best defenseman not playing in the NHL this year (courtesy of Christopher Pasatieri/Getty Images)

The Islanders have become a top team in the Eastern Conference this season after years of finishing low in the standings. The team’s success on the draft floor has built a talented core that looks primed to be competitive for years. Read more»